Raccoons are a fixture of Arizona life — raiding trash cans in Phoenix, denning in Scottsdale attics, and wandering through Tucson backyards with surprising regularity. When one shows up and starts causing damage, the instinct to deal with it yourself is understandable. But Arizona’s wildlife laws are strict, and acting without the right permits can turn a nuisance problem into a criminal matter.
So, can you kill raccoons in Arizona? The short answer is: sometimes, but only under specific legal conditions and with proper authorization. Under ARS Title 17, it is unlawful to possess, kill, harass, hunt, or handle wildlife that is protected by state or federal law without proper permits. Raccoons fall squarely within that framework. This guide walks through exactly what the law allows, when removal is permitted, and what steps keep you on the right side of Arizona regulations.
Are Raccoons Protected in Arizona?
Yes — raccoons receive legal protection in Arizona, though the nature of that protection is sometimes misunderstood. Arizona classifies raccoons as nongame wildlife, which means you can’t simply trap or remove them without the proper permits. In Arizona, they’re legally classified as nongame wildlife protected from unlicensed removal.
Raccoons are also classified as furbearers — a category that includes badger, beaver, muskrat, otter, ringtail, and weasel — and are often trapped rather than hunted. That furbearer designation carries real legal weight. The use of traps for rodent control or poisons for rodent control is permitted for controlling wild and domestic rodents, but this explicitly excludes any fur-bearing animals as defined in section 17-101. In plain terms, the standard rodent-control exception does not cover raccoons…